Olivier Giroud is renowned for his aerial prowess and the Chelsea striker has actually bettered Real Madrid icon Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of headed goals over the last three seasons.
The Frenchman has always been strong in the air, with the likes of Montpellier and Arsenal among those to have benefitted from that obvious strength down the years.
His skill set has now been taken to Stamford Bridge, where the goals have continued to flow.
Giroud has been able to muscle Alvaro Morata out of Antonio Conte’s plans, with a proven Premier League performer being favoured to a £70 million signing.
That faith has been rewarded with five goals, with the most recent of those coming in a crunch clash with Champions League finalists Liverpool.
Giroud rose highest to nod Chelsea in front against the Reds on Sunday, with a Victor Moses cross turned home in the 32nd minute.
That effort was the 17th to have been recorded by the 31-year-old’s head since the start of the 2015-16 campaign.
Nobody in Europe can claim to have bettered that return – not even Real talisman Ronaldo.
17 - Since 2015/16, Olivier Giroud has scored 17 headed goals in the Premier League, more than any other player from the Top 5 European leagues (ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, 16). Specialist. pic.twitter.com/m6Vrpt7rhS
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 6, 2018
Giroud will be hoping that there are many more efforts to come, as he continues to make a positive impression at Stamford Bridge.
He was acquired by Chelsea after slipping down the pecking order at London rivals Arsenal, with the Gunners opting to put their faith in the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Their loss has been the Blues’ gain, with Giroud suggesting that he could be a snip at £18 million.
If he continues to better the return of Ronaldo when it comes to headed goals, then he will certainly have repaid the investment made in him by the time an initial 18-month contract comes to a close in the summer of 2019.